CLOSED - Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion Review and Giveaway

I recently had the opportunity to try another great product. I was given three bottles of the New Vaseline® Sheer Infusion™ with Stratys-3™. Now we are a Vaseline family anyway. Hubby only uses Vaseline lotion for his dry skin and I often use it as well. We have found Vaseline products are great for our skin and we really like them so I was more than happy to try this new line of lotions.

Since I can't speak to the chemistry behind the lotion, I will post what the experts say:
New Vaseline® Sheer Infusion™ with Stratys-3™ is the biggest breakthrough in body lotion for over 10 years. It is the only body lotion designed to infuse and suspend moisture across all layers of skin* – the top, core and deep down – for twice the moisture and an unmatched silky skin feel compared to leading everyday body lotions.

I am also embedding a video that better explains the science behind this breakthrough lotion so you can see for yourself.



The three types of Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotions are as follows:

* Botanical Blend ~ Contains botanical cypress extract and eucalyptus extract. Features sap boost scent with hints of Fiji apple and Chinese mandarin, water lily and stephanotis flowers and Baltic amber and musk* Mineral Renewal ~ Formula containing enriching minerals found in healthy skin for when your skin feels tired and depleted. Scent features a blend of crisp pear, fresh bergamot and the floralcy of apple blossom and white peony with a hint of ginger essence
* Vitamin Burst ~ Formula containing vitamins B5 and E. Ferngully scent includes blend of sparkling citrus and red currant berries, pear and rhubarb, and enlivening flowers and spices

I tried the Vitamin Burst and Botanical Blend. I loved them. My skin gets really dry and itchy this time of the year so these came at a great time. I used them after showering and at bedtime especially on my legs. The lotion went on easily and it felt really silky. I really liked that it wasn't greasy at all. That's super important to me. My skin stayed moisturized and it felt so much better after a few days. My skin felt soft and smooth. What else can I say? I really liked these lotions. I am even having hubby try them because he swears by Vaseline. I also liked the fragrance. The ones I tried had a floral smell but it wasn't too strong. The smell was subtle and it wasn't heavy at all. I only wish they actually had a linen or fruity fragrance available as well. But overall, these get a thumbs up from me because they worked on my dry skin.

You can find Vaseline Sheer Infusion with Stratys-3 lotions at any food, drug and mass retailers nationwide in both a 6.8 oz bottle ($6.25 SRP) and 13.5 oz pump ($8.99SRP) size.

You know what's coming, don't you? Yes, now you have the chance to win some of these great lotions for yourself. There will be one lucky winner. With winter coming up, this is a great prize to be winning right about now. So read the rules, enter and cross your fingers for luck!!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Vaseline site and come back and tell me something you learned.

Extra Entries
*Follow me on Twitter @carogonza and tweet this post. You can earn and entry a day by tweeting once a day. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* NEW - Subscribe through email (2 entries)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my NEW button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!

Deadline: Sunday, November 18 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US and CANADA residents only who are 18 years of age or older.







Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the same prize that I am giving away. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are mine. They have not been influenced by the product given.

Pepperidge Farm® Baked Naturals Cheese Crisps - More BlogHer Contests

Here are a few more BlogHer contests. This one for Pepperidge Farms Cheese crisps (YUMMO) and a $100 Visa Card. You can buy a lot of cheese with that. SO enter now because I think this one ends pretty soon. I am compiling more of these Blogher giveaways so keep an eye out because these are always good ones to enter. Good Luck.






Frantic Home Cook
Diane's Dishes
Amanda's Cookin'
Pasta Queen
Everyday Goddess
Wishbone Clover
Mom to the Screaming Masses
Real Food For Real People

Accor 3-day Super Sale Across Asia Pacific

Check out the Accor Hotels 3-Day Super Sale Asia Pacific on over one million hotel rooms across Asia Pacific for only 3 days starting from October 27 to October 29, 2009!! So hurry as the offer is limited. Some rooms will have rates as low as $30US per night. Now that's a fantastic deal. The valid dates for stays are December 2009 to April 2010! With rates like these you can book a few extra days.

The country list includes Thailand, Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Fiji, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Bali. Different rates apply for Accor's participating hotels such as Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons and Ibis all offering a range of affordable rates.

Wow I looked around the site and found some great deals. One of the places I have always wanted to travel to is Fiji and I found a great deal at the Novotel Suma Lami Bay Hotel. This hotel overlooks the the gorgeous Bay Of Islands. Most of the 108 rooms feature balconies with views of the Lami Bay or a lush tropical garden. And the best part? The rate was as little as $52 US per night. Holy moley, that is a great deal.

If you are planning a trip to this area then you need to run over to the site and book now. Even if you aren't planning a trip maybe this is the time to get on it. I am going to try and convince Tom that maybe we need to take a trip. With these deals, who knows maybe we will get a belated honeymoon!!

Remember that these rates will not last forever so go over to theAccor Hotels 3-Day Super Sale Asia Pacific and find some great deals. Happy traveling!!!

WOO-HOO Wonder and Blogher

Oh the gift that keeps on giving are these BlogHer contests. So here is another round. This time it's a year's worth of Wonder Bread and a $100 Visa card. Here is the list.

Salsa in China
Fluid Pudding
Bonggamom
Jenny on the Spot
4tunate
Oh, the Joys preferred

Los Lobos Goes Disney Review

Hey Folks, if you like Disney music and Los Lobos then you have to check out this new CD. The Los Lobos Goes Disney CD is available everywhere starting today. This Grammy Award winning musical group has taken timeless Disney music and remade it with a Latin twist!!

I was a little reluctant at first to review this because I was like what the heck are Los Lobos doing Disney. But I love Los Lobos and have for years so I figured they never let me down before. Plus, I love Disney music.

While I didn't care for all the songs, the CD is actually pretty good. I loved their take on Creulla De Vil. I also loved their version of The Bare Necessities and The Tiki Tiki Room. I am so glad they covered The Tiki Tiki Room because that was always one of my favorite rides at Disney! I found myself singing along.

If you have a Disney music lover at home, this would make a fantastic stuffing stuffer. I think the kids will love it. The little Latin rock n' roll twist gives a fresh outlook to these classics.

Here is the track listing:
1. Heigh-Ho - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2. I Wan'na Be Like You - The Jungle Book
3. Not in Nottingham - Robin Hood
4. The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room - The Enchanted Tiki Room
5. Grim Grinning Ghosts - The Haunted Mansion
6. I Will Go Sailing No More - Toy Story
7. The Ugly Bug Ball - Summer Magic
8. Cruella De Vil - 101 Dalmations
9. Bella Notte - Lady and the Tramp
10. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - Song of the South
11. The Bare Necessities - The Jungle Book
12. Oo-De-Lally - Robin Hood
13. When You Wish Upon a Star/It's A Small World

You can pick up a copy now, in stores or online (Amazon/ iTunes).

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the same prize that I am giving away. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are mine. They have not been influenced by the product given.

WINNER!! Harry Connick Jr. Your Songs CD!!

Drumroll please. The winner of the Harry Connick Jr. Your Songs CD chosen by Random.org is:

Tammigirl

Congrats! I have contacted you. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winner. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank One2One Network for this great prize and the opportunity to give it to one of my readers. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! I have also started adding more reviews, freebies and deals to the blog so you can be in on them so keep checking back. I have some great giveaways coming up in the next few weeks so check back for some goodies!

CLOSED - Unilever Beauty Tip of the Day Giveaway

If you haven't noticed, there is a widget below my posts. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Everyday the Unilever widget gives you some very interesting and helpful beauty tips.

I love the widget because it gives you tips for your hair, body and face. It offers you a list of Unilever products to use and it also has video tips. Best of all if you haven't noticed, you can get coupons by clicking on the bonus button.

One of my favorite tips was about my hair. I have long, thick hair and it is unmanageable sometimes. One day while looking at the widget this tip came up. It said to blow dry hair out of the bathroom because the steam from the shower will cause frizz. Well, believe it or not, I had never thought about that. So now I dry my hair in the bedroom and the frizz is down. The Beauty Widget also suggested using a toothbrush to tame the flyaway hairs. Dove has a Frizz Control Therapy Taming Cream that you can use. Put a little on the brush and smooth through problem areas.

The other tip I love is to take Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes in your bag when you go on vacation. I just did this on my trip last week to Cancun. They go through security without a problem and they work like a dream.

So take a look at the Unilever widget and see what great tips you can find. There are quite a few.

Plus, yes there is a plus!! Unilever has been kind enough to offer me a box of Unilever goodies ($30) for one of my readers. I got a goodie box as well to host the widget and let me tell you, it's a great. It had Q-tips, Dove shampoo and conditioner, Pond's Wet cleansing towelettes and more. I can't promise what you will get but it will be a grab bag of goodies!!

Mandatory Entry

*Click the widget and share something you learned.

Extra Entries
*Follow me on Twitter @carogonza and tweet this post. You can earn and entry a day by tweeting once a day. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my NEW button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!

Deadline: Sunday, November 15 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.




Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the same prize that I am giving away. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are mine. They have not been influenced by the product given.

WINNER!! Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes!!

Drumroll please. The winner of the Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes chosen by Random.org is:

dolls123

Congrats! I have emailed you. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winner. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank Pond's for this great prize and the opportunity to give it to one of my readers. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! I have also started adding more reviews, freebies and deals to the blog so you can be in on them so keep checking back. I have some great giveaways coming up in the next few weeks so check back for some goodies!

Love Shopping?

If you do like shopping then you need to visit Catalog Link to find some great stores and deals on some great items.

My favorite store was Shoemall.com. I am in the market for some new Winter Boots and found quite a few especially these Sorel Joan of Artic boots.

I sure hope Tom is reading this post so he knows what goes on my Christmas list. (hint, hint)

I will be Mia for a Few Days

I guess you could say I am off to my honeymoon except Tom is not going to be there. LOL Actually, me and my sister are off to Cancun for a few days for a sister's vacay!!

We had planned this a while ago. While I wish Tom could come with us, it will be nice to see my sis and just hang out with her. Tom can't come because he has to work and can't take any time off. I will miss him but we had a wonderful Cancun Vacation a few months ago.

I will be leaving Sunday to spend the night in Atlanta and I fly out Monday and come back on Thursday. In the meantime, I am scheduling some posts for your entertainment. Basically I will be posting some pictures I took today around the town. I am taking my Flip camera so I am hoping I will get some great video to post as well. I will take tons of pictures to post as well.

When I get back, I will have new giveaways to post and new giveaways to enter. Have a good week!!

WINNER!!! Solavie Hair Care Duo Pack

Drumroll please. The winner of the Solavie Hair Care Duo Pack chosen by Random.org is:

Donna4

Congrats! I have emailed you. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winner. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank Solavie for this great prize and the opportunity to give it to one of my readers. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! I have also started adding more reviews, freebies and deals to the blog so you can be in on them so keep checking back.

Weekend Giveaway Round-Up!

Okay here are some cool giveaways I have found. ou might have seen them already but maybe not. Good Luck!

F-Secure Internet Security 2010 & Gift Card Giveaway over at Table for Five. She always has the BEST giveaways.

Also at Table for Five is another fantastic giveaway for a tote and tons of great coupons!!

Get on this one NOW. I just found it and it ends on the 18th. GO over to Naddez's Goody Corner for a 5 piece Pyrex set from DiningRoomsDirect.com. With the holidays coming up, this would be great.

Love Progresso? Ever tried Panko? If not, then go over to Food for 5 and check out the cool cooking giveaway! Besides the yummies, it includes some cool kitchen utensils as well!!

Run over to Coupon Divas for a chance to win a YoPlus"Get Healthy" gift pack that includes a stylish sports bag, sports towel, ear buds and two free coupons* for any flavor of the new YoPlus Light yogurt. Wile you are there look around because this is a great site!

More to come. . .

What I want for Christmas!

When we moved into our current house, I loved having hardwood floors. They look so nice. I was happy that I wouldn't have to vacuum the carpet all the time. Little did I know how fast the hardwood floors get dirty even when the house is clean. We have two cats and they shed everywhere. Shortly after we moved in, I realized that dust and cat hair love each other. Oh yes, they cling to each other for dear life and then hide in all the corners.

I had to start sweeping, vacuuming or Swiffering the floors almost every other day just to make sure they stay presentable. Let me tell you, it's not a good thing. It takes up a lot of time and is never ending. So when I got the opportunity to write about a product at Shop.com, I chose the the Roomba robotic vacuum because I am hoping hubby reads this post and gets the hint I want one for Christmas. These would make a perfect gift for anyone who wants to cut back on the time it takes to clean the floors.

I honestly need one of these. I love the fact that I can place this baby on the floor, walk away and it does the cleaning for me. How easy is that? It runs on batteries and because of the sensing software it adjusts for any type of flooring. Since I have hardwood floors and tile floors that is good too know. What a help it would be to have the Roomba tooling around the house picking up the hair and dust especially under the beds!!

Now the Roomba isn't the only robotic vacuum Shop.com offers. Shop.com also has other types of robotic vacuums to buy. They all look wonderful and the best part is that I won't have to be sweeping, vacuuming or Swiffering the floors all the time. Now that leaves me more time to do more shopping!

Yoplait "Get Strong & Healthy" Review and Giveaway

I love My Blog Spark. They always have such great products to feature. This time I was sent this wonderful pack that included a yoga mat and bag, autographed copy of Nancy O'Dell's book Full of Life and a coupon for Yoplait yogurt.

Now that I am on the Nutrisystem program, I am eating healthier. As part of my daily routine I now supplement the program's food with yogurt. I have it at breakfast and as a snack. So I was thrilled to get a coupon for more yogurt.

What I like about Yoplait yogurt is that there are so many varieties and flavors. I used my coupon to buy Yoplait Original Strawberry flavor. This is my all time favorite yogurt. But Yoplait also has various types of yogurt including Fiber One yogurt, which is fantastic. I also love the YoPlus digestive yogurt and it's great for the tummy!! I recently tried the Yoplait Delights. Man oh man, these are good. The Delights are thick and creamy and good for you!

Another great thing about Yoplait is that it is the only leading brand of yogurt containing calcium and vitamin D in every serving (10-20 percent of your daily value of vitamin D and an excellent source of calcium). I bet you didn't know that most people don't get enough vitamin D or calcium in their diets. And you need vitamin D and calcium to reduce bone fracture in adulthood.

Yoplait has partnered up with Nancy O’Dell, entertainment news reporter and celebrity mom, to get the word out about the importance of who incorporating calcium and Vitamin D into our diets and maintain a healthy lifestyle. In her new book, “Full of Life”, Nancy “talks openly about her experiences in each stage of expectant motherhood, from pre-conception through delivery, and even the intimidating but joyful first week at home with her new baby. A sweet celebration of pregnancy and new motherhood — the good, the bad, and the just plain unexpected."




Because of this, now you get a chance to have one of your very own Yoplait "Get Strong & Healthy" prize packs that includes this awesome yoga mat and bag, Nancy's autographed book and a coupon for Yoplait. Woo-Hoo!! So please read the rules and enter! I have 2 of these to give away to two very lucky readers. **Please note: the free coupon is not valid outside the United States or within the following states: ID, LA, ND, NJ, NV and TN
Mandatory Entry: Answer one of the following questions:
*What is your favorite way to stay active for yourself and your family?
*What are some tips you can share for maintaining a balanced lifestyle with exercise and healthy foods?
*How do you include calcium and vitamin D into your family's diet?

Want extra entries? Of course you do!!

* Go check out Yoplait's website come back and tell me your favorite Yoplait yogurt and flavor or something you learned. (1 entry)
* Go to Yoplait on Facebook and become a fan (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza and tweet this post. You can earn and entry a day by tweeting once a day. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my NEW button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!

Deadline: Tuesday, November 3 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.



Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the same prize that I am giving away. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are mine. They have not been influenced by the product given.

Looking for Plus Size Swimwear? Then you need to Check This Out!

I am forever and a day looking for cute plus size fashion. When I come across a shop I like, I bookmark it and always check back when I am looking for something specific. Recently I came across Swimsuitforall.com. Swimsuitsforall.com has swimwear for all sizes and types of women. What I love is they have a huge assortment of Plus Size Swimwear for a voluptuous gal like myself.

I took a good look around and found so many cute bathing suits and cover-ups I would love to buy. I wish I had found this site before because I am traveling to Cancun next week and could have bought some really cute suits and cover-ups for myself.

My issue besides being Rubenesque, is that I have a long torso and a large chest that needs lots of support so I need to find suits that address those problems. It is usually tough but Swimsuitforall.com carries a brand of suits I swear by: Longitude®. They make swimsuit a little longer thus assuring that the whole body gets covered. The longer suit also ensures that the suit won't ride up or the front won't go down so the everything stays in place. I love these. Look at this Longitude® Dots Plus Size Tie Front Swimsuit. I love this because besides being cute it has a soft cup bra and a tummy panel to squeeze you in. And at $39.00, this is a steal!!

I also found this Longitude® On the Fold Plus Size High Neck Swimsuit at $78. It is adorable and again look at how flattering that would be even for a plus size gal like me. It highlights the top and the the colorful band accentuates the waist thus taking the eye off the problem areas. This suit also has a soft cup bra which is essential for me and a tummy panel to smooth you out.

They also offer Delta Burke swimwear which I love. Delta Burke swimsuits are always so beautiful and classy. They have great styles that flatter us voluptuous girls. These are two of my favorite suits. The Delta Burke® Flowery Night Lingerie Strap One Piece Swimsuit at only $49.98!! I love the two colors because again the top is highlighted and all the problem areas are minimized. This one is especially cute with the lingerie straps and decorative hardware.

The other Delta Burke suit I loved was the Delta Burke® Beach Breeze Plus Size Colorblock One Piece. If you are plus size consider color-block suits. I find that at least for me these always make me look good. This one has soft bra cups and I find the fit flattering and the double straps are a plus! The other thing is all these suits are fun and youthful. They cover up enough but still give you a fashionable flair.

I also needed a cute cover-up and I found a few I really like. I found many styles and sizes that it was hard to choose my favorites but I did. Check out this Black Terry Cloth Plus Size Scoop Cover Up at only$19.98. That is really cute and can go from pool or beach to resort. My favorite item was this Funky People Santa Monica Plus Size Dress at $19.98. Look how adorable this cover-up is. It is so versatile that you can even use this as a dress to go out. With a pair of cute sandals, no one would guess it is a cover-up. What I love about these cover-ups is that you can toss them on over your swimsuit and walk into a restaurant and look great.

These are just my favorites but they have everything you need to be beach ready. They have one-piece suits, tankinis, athletic swimwear, bathing caps, bikinis and other separates. They also offer Plus Size lingerie. And let me tell you they have some really have some cute bras and panties. The swimwear runs in sizes 8-16 and Plus Sizes from 8-24 and specialty sizes from 26-34.

Shopping can't be easier. They have detailed images, sizing charts, and fit information on each item. You can also get a free consultation and have one of the swimsuit specialists offer you advice on what style and type of swimsuit suits your body. How cool is that?

So if you are looking for a great place to find some darling plus size swimwear then you need to head over to Swimsuitsforall.com and look around. I know I already put a few of these on my Christmas list. I want to be ready for vacation next year!!!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post or advertorial and I received monetary compensation for this post. The opinions in this post are my own and not intended to be a substitute for your own research.

Nutrisystem Update from my other blog: Carolyn in Carolina

Nutrisystem is providing me the Nutrisystem food free of charge for my weight loss journey. The compensation received will never influence the content of my posts. No other form compensation has been offered or given.So as some of you know especially if you read my other blog, I am on the Nutrisystem program. As of today, I am down 10.5, maybe 11 pounds. I am posting some previous entries on this blog to update every one on my progress. ENJOY!!

**********************************************************************************
10 DOWN , 5,000,000 TO GO

Well it feels like 5,000,000 but it's only 20. Yes, folks, I was good this past week and stuck to the Nutrisystem program as much as I could and lost that last pesky pound to get to 10. It's a miracle since the week before I had gone off for a few days because of the conference and being away from home.

But it feels good to be down 10 and I notice the change. It's not huge but my clothes are fitting better and I wore some things I haven't for a while. At the conference I wore a form fitting sweater and I could see the change in my waist because it actually was smaller. Again, not a huge difference but a difference nonetheless.

I am still loving most of the Nutrisystem food. Any of the frozen food is terrific especially breakfast. I get omelets, breakfast burritos, pancakes and french toast. I hated eating breakfast but now I do love it. I think I mentioned before that I had some weird veggie wrap filling that I will not eat again. It was just something I didn't like. So I opted to get fresh veggies and chicken breast and make it almost the same way. Who knew I could have a wrap on a diet? Delish.

This week will bring more temptations. Tom's mom and his two aunts are visiting this weekend and that means eating out again. I am just hoping I can keep up the portion control and making healthier choices. I am learning and I think even Tom is surprised. This weekend we were in the big city again and ate out. I opted for a salad instead of the Pad Thai, now that is self-control. I will blog about that tomorrow.

So that is my update. I believe I am still doing pretty well. Now I need to get my lazy butt up and start exercising a little more. Last week I was bad and only did it twice. This week's goal is at least 3 days before the weekend!! I think once I reach 15 pounds, I am posting a before and after picture. ((shudder))

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER POSSIBLE POUND

I was really good this week until the weekend. Tom's mom and his 2 aunts came to visit for the weekend and that meant off the program, once again. It's really hard to stay on the program when I have to go out and eat. But overall I was still pretty good. I pretty much stayed on program on the weekdays although I noticed that if I do not follow the program to the letter and eat the suggested salads or veggies, I get hungry. This is something I wasn't having a problem with the last few weeks. But this week, I was busy so I took some shortcuts and one day paid for it. I ate the breakfast entree and nothing else and then I had a lunch entree and nothing else and then in the evening, I was starving. I mean that hunger where nothing can satisfy you at all. I had my dinner entree and a bunch of green beans but I was still hungry.

There is something to be said about eating smaller meals throughout the day as the Nutrisystem plan has you do. It actually does make you less hungry. And I noticed since I didn't have all the food and the snacks, I got out of whack and it made me crave stuff at night. That was a bad evening. I ended up having to eat some yogurt and almonds and cheese just to quell the hunger. The next day, I tried to get back on the plan and eat every few hours so I wouldn't get famished. It worked.

On Saturday when we had visitors we went to eat in downtown Sylva. We wanted to eat at the Spring Street Cafe but it was closed. So we had to go elsewhere. We ended up at Lulu's. Lulu's is a funky little restaurant in Sylva. I have been there a few times and it is good but not one of my favorites. I am not sure why because the food isn't bad. But it was great that night. We had a great server who was funny and nice. The food was good and, yes, I went off program. But I had a bean burrito and salad. I didn't eat the whole meal and left the rice. The others enjoyed their food as well.

On Sunday, Tom took the ladies for a drive. I opted to stay home because I am lazy and get bored driving around the parkway. It's really beautiful for the first 10-15 minutes and then it all becomes a blur and I get distracted and sleepy and then usually doze. I know that's bad because I should be grateful I live in a beautiful place where you can see the Fall colors but I can't help myself. But I was also able to eat 2 Nutrisystem meals that day until dinner.

Later, they stopped by the house to check it out and we sat out on the porch and chatted. Tom's mom has been here before but not his aunts. Then we went and had dinner at the Jarrett House. Jarrett House is an Inn that has a restaurant. It is pretty old and cool and is actually located in Dillsboro. We had been there before and thought it would be a great place to take the ladies. They serve a family style meal. So basically you order an entree and then they serve you the sides of the day family style. The food is great but no the healthiest around. They have good stuff like fried chicken, pot roast, ham, chicken and dumplings, fried catfish etc. The sides included mashed potatoes, green beans, beets, baked apples, coleslaw and fresh biscuits. I was so good. I didn't have a biscuit. I had a tablespoon of potatoes, green beans, beets and one chicken thigh. I could have eaten the other two pieces of chicken but didn't. Yes, I resisted all this good stuff!! Yay me!

After dinner the ladies went back to the hotel and we went home. They were leaving tomorrow to head to Tennessee and then continue their road trip back to Ohio.

So I have lost about about pound this week. I really can't tell because the Wii has me at more but the scale at less so I am splitting the difference and calling it about a pound, I do need a more reliable scale because my way of figuring it out has become willy-nilly. All I know is that my clothes fits so much better and that's all that counts.

Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways!!

Need some dental care> Then you need to enter this Waterpik giveaway at Penelope's Oasis! I have always wanted to try one of these!

Win a Walmart card over at The Thrifty Mama.

Hummus! Yummo I love Hummus. And Sabra Hummus is absolutely delicious. So go on over to She Scribes and enter.

When I saw this I was like What? The I realized it was a quilt made from t-shirts and thought how cool. The Campus Quilt Company makes them and a a Psych Mommy is giving away a certificate.

Frito Lay Football Pack over at Simply Being Mom. Win snacks and cool stuff.

My favorite dwarf has always been Grumpy. I think he is misunderstood. And I love Snow White the movie and over at Rockin Mama you could win it! Hi ho hi ho.

Michael Buble "Crazy Love"

Michael Buble has a new CD out and you can get it now! Woo-Hoo!

WINNERS!!! Success Rice Review and Giveaway!

Drumroll please. I have a few Success Rice winners to announce chosen by Random.org, The winners are:

Renee G

JudyBrittle

Mommyhood is Thankless

Hondaray6

clallen

Congrats winners! I have emailed you to get your information. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank Success Rice for these great prizes and the opportunity to give them to my readers. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! I have also started adding more reviews, freebies and deals to the blog so you can be in on them so keep checking back. Please enter my Pond's cleansing towelettes, Solavie Desert Hair Care Duo Pack, Harry Connick Jr. CD and Alight.com giveaways!!

THANKS!!

Enter to Win!

ENDS on FRIDAY the 9th! So get on this one. The Angel Forever is having a great Yoplait Delights. This prize pack has slippers, robe and yogurt. What more can you ask for??

Head's Up for all you Soda Stream lovers. I know a lot of you wanted one of these and I just came across more giveaways. Go over to the Alternative Consumer and Laughing Lindsay and enter for one of these handy dandy machines!

If your tootsies need some loving, then head over to A Meyerific Life and enter to win a foot spa. How lovely would this be??

If you like office supplies like I like office supplies then head on over to Little Fun; Little Learning and enter for a huge basket full of goodies! Woo!

Run over to the Not So Blog where she is giving away a cool Frito Pack. Great for those football parties you might be having!!

Wnt some yummies? Head over to Mommy2TwoGirls and enter to win some Tortuga Rum Cakes. I have tried these and they are so freaking delcious!!

Now You're Cooking! Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel’s Cooking School Weekend!

I have always wanted to go to Branson, Missouri because it seems like an adult version of Disneyland. Branson has so much to offer and you will always find something to do.

If you are looking for entertainment, you can find celebrity shows, magicians, musicals and comedians. You can go watch Vegas type shows as well as acrobats and Broadway type shows. If you rather go trip the light fantastic there are plenty of nightclubs and bars. For the kids they have mini golf, theme parks with cool rides, museums, go-carts and, in the summer, water parks.

And whatever your taste, you will find some world-class food in Branson. There are BBQ restaurants, buffets, fast food, family restaurants, steakhouses, ethnic food, fish restaurants, cafes, pubs, gourmet restaurants, waterfront restaurants and outdoor fare. And if you are a foodie like me you might want to take advantage of this special offer.

October 16 and 17 is the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel’s Cooking School Weekend. You can experience this unique package that includes deluxe accommodations at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel for two people Friday and Saturday evening for just $398.00 plus tax for both nights!

The package also includes a wonderful Wine Tasting Reception. After the reception, you will receive a cooking demonstration with the Hilton's Chef Nathan Read. The next morning he will teach participants how to prepare yummy appetizers. Then in the evening, participants will be treated to a four-course meal paired with wines. Your second day begins with more cooking lessons where you will learn how to prepare the meal you had the night before. Once you leave this fun and food filled weekend, you will be able to prepare your own gourmet meals!

So consider this wonderful package. Since I am a foodie this is something that interests me. And besides the wonderful food package, you can also take advantage of the great things the Hilton and Branson has to offer. There are shops, boutiques, a river walk, golf, museums and so much more. There are so many things to do and see in Branson. And you can always find some great deals. So if you are looking for a great vacation spot, you might want to check out Branson. Maybe I'll see you there!

Ragu and BlogHer

Another round! Aren't you glad I post these Blogher giveaways?? This time you can win $100. So visit these sites and enter. GOOD LUCK!!

Stop, Drop & Blog
The Frugal Girl
Bonggamom
Steeces Pieces
The Karianna Spectrum
Home Slice
I have things
Welcome to Quadville
Mom to the Screaming Masses
Eat Real

Eau Flirt and Ageless Giveaway WINNERS!!!!

Drumroll please. I have a few winners to announce chosen by Random.org is:

Ageless Winner: Wendi P

Eau Flirt: nfmgirl

Congrats! I have emailed you to get your information. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank Harvey Prince for these great prizes and the opportunity to give them to my readers. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! I have also started adding more reviews, freebies and deals to the blog so you can be in on them so keep checking back. Please enter my Pond's cleansing towelettes, Solavie Desert Hair Care Duo Pack, and Harry Connick Jr. CD giveaways!! Coming soon I have a Yoplait Yoga gift pack and Alight.com giveaway.

CLOSED!!! Alight.com Review and Giveaway!! Part 2

Remember my September alight.com giveaway? Well the really cool people at alight.com have given me another opportunity to giveaway another top to one of my readers!! YAY!

I am not really going to do a review in this post since I reviewed alight.com here. But I included the good points in this post. The bottom line is I love shopping at alight.com and they have some of the cutest plus-size clothes around. I am Rubenesque and love fashionable clothing and I have found really cute plus-size clothing at alight.com. It's one of the online retailers I often visit.

What I like about alight.com is that they have plus size clothing that are stylish, hip and trendy. So often plus size clothing is boring and old fashioned. They carry sizes 14W to 30W and alight.com has quickly become the leading specialty e-tailer for plus-size women. I love it because they carry everything including dresses, jeans, tops, jackets, coats, skirts, and pants and accessories. They have over almost 100 brands and over 900 styles! You can find largest selection of contemporary and junior plus designers, including Blue Plate, pink.girl, Angels, Abby Z, Ruby Rox, Fashion Love, ToTo, Mecca Femme, Pink Apple, and Sele at alight.com.

They have such a great selection. If you have never shopped at alight.com and are a beautiful full-figure gal, you should check it out. I have found clothing that is fun and trendy. The dresses are to die for and since they have such a huge selection, you can find clothes that are casual or dressy. The quality is fantastic and the prices are really great too. I often find that plus size clothing can be extremely pricey. But alight.com always has some great deals and the prices are always right!

I am so excited that I get to run this giveaway again because I know that a lot of you wanted to win and now someone else gets the chance to win. YAY! Read the rules and enter. I really think you will love the clothes at alight.com!!

Mandatory Entry: Visit alight.com and sign up for the the email list on the site. You must be signed up for the newsletter to win and we will check. If you win and aren't signed up, I will choose another winner.

Want extra entries?

* Follow alight.com on Twitter
* Fan alight.com on Facebook
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza and tweet this post. You can earn and entry a day by tweeting once a day. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!

Deadline: Saturday, October 31 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick a winner so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.

More BlogHer Giveaways

I love these because they are easy to enter and always a good chance of winning! This time you can win a Febreze NOTICEables Gift Basket and a $100 Visa Gift Card! SWEET!!

Here are the blogs you can go to and enter. GOOD LUCK:

Jenny on the Spot
BlogHer Reviews by little ol' Me
Petroville
Fiddledeedee
Unexpected Bliss Reviews
Kirida Reviews
Busy Mom

High Sierra Chip Messenger Bag/Day Pack Review!!

The High Sierra Sports Company sent me 2 bags to review. I was sent the Chip Messenger Bag/Day Pack and the Level Carry-On Business Tote. We needed bags for toting our computer when we travel and these are fantastic. This review is for the Chip Bag.

I recently attended the Type-A-Mom Blogger Conference in Asheville. Since this is a conference about blogging and social media, I really needed to take my laptop to take notes, tweet and everything else. I decided to take the Chip bag instead of the Wheeled Tote since I would need to lug my computer from session to session and to and from my hotel room. It was such a great decision to do so.

The Chip had space for everything I needed. The main compartment is large and the perfect size for my 15" laptop. It is padded so I didn't have to worry about the laptop getting damaged. I was also able to fit a notebook and folder in the same large compartment. The front pockets were perfect for all my other stuff. I had my lip gloss in one of the pen pockets and was able to also store some of my Nutrisystem snacks as well. It has a little area where I could fit my cellphone. I also had my camera with me so that pocket was big enough to store both my phone and camera. The Chip has pockets for pens and the zippered pocket was perfect for my mini wallet where I had my money, ID and hotel room key and my business cards as well. It also includes a key fob. On the side of the bag, you have a compartment for a water bottle, which came in super duper handy. And I ended up using the MP3 player pocket to store my flip camera.

The pockets are mesh so it's easy to see what you have stored. On the last day of the conference when I had to check out early, I had to store more stuff in the Chip Bag. I am not sure it's recommended to stuff it full but I did. I was able to place my computer and phone chargers, mousepad, wireless mouse and my full size wallet in the bag. I also had enough space to stash some of the swag they were giving out. And through all this "abuse" the bag held up beautifully. This bag is high quality and you can tell because the fabric used and the manufacturing are very good. Cheaper bags would not have held up, I believe.

The straps are comfortable so although it got heavy, it was not painful at all. It has a handy grab handle as well, which I ended up using as a place to hold the little handmade monster I bought at the Mom's Market. The Chip also has a wonderful clip in the front to keep everything in place and secure. I was so glad that I had this bag to use at the conference. It helped me carry everything I needed to carry and do it comfortably. Everything fit in the bag and I had everything I needed. I am definitely using this bag when I travel anywhere.

If you want to check out the Chip or any other of the High Sierra bags, please visit their website. They have bags for every occasion. If you need them for business or leisure, you will find it something at High Sierra. The suggested retail price for the Chip is $70 and let me tell you that is a bargain in my book. I truly believe that this bag will give me a few good years of usage and it will get usage!

I am actually going to use the Level Wheeled Bag soon when I travel to Mexico. I need to have my computer but also need the wheeled bag to make it easier to travel within the airport. I will be reviewing the Level Bag when I return from my trip. I can't wait to see how this bag works and if it's as good as the Chip bag.

I want to thank High Sierra Sports Company for the opportunity to review these bags. They have been wonderful to work with. Please go check out their website and if you are in the market for some great luggage, consider buying High Sierra items.